05/10/2012

The thrill and rarity of Texas Rangers' outfielder Josh Hamilton's 54 home run performance (that's what it feels like now) earlier this week in Baltimore has created a buzz over baseball that we aren't even paying attention to how bad Albert Pujols has been sucking. BTW - Albert is batting .198 with 1 HR, 11 RBI this season.

According to the Internet Machine, the Rangers are talking about signing Hamilton to a 75-year contract worth $3 trillion. Again, that's what it feels like now.

Aside from Hamilton talk, in case you didn't know, the Anaheim Angels are coming to Texas for their first series of the season against the Rangers beginning Friday.

This doesn't happen often, like almost never, but Friday night's scheduled pitching matchup is the rare matchup of the guy you had vs. the guy you have:

C.J. Wilson (4-2, 2.61 ERA) vs. Yu Darvish (4-1, 2.54 ERA)

Even though Wilson was instrumental in the Rangers' success in each of the past two seasons as a starter, by the time he hit free agency last winter fans sounded tired of his "Speed Racer, Most Interesting Man in the World" persona. There was a "Good riddance" feeling to his departure, which was bolstered by a pair of unimpressive post season performances. And then there was the fact he Tweeted out former teammate Mike Napoli's cell phone number.

He may rub you wrong because he can sound a bit too cool for school, but the man is a solid innings eater who doesn't get hurt.

When the Rangers said goobye to Wilson they obviously did so with the knowledge they were going to make a serious run at Yu, who so far in his MLB career looks like he can be a dominating starting pitcher.

But the Rangers didn't make this swap for April through September, but specifically October.

On the side are string fries that are tossed in sesame oil and sprinkled with sesame seeds.

There was some hubub that this is not true to Japanese cuisine; wonton is a Chinese creation. As a white American dude, I am OK with it. Watch here if you can, or are so inclined, my first bite into the Yu Dog. (Please note I am sorry about the nose and chin; blame my father).

ADVICE: Be open-minded when trying this. This is not your typical hot dog at the Ballpark experience. It runs for $12.50. It's a-bit-ah spicy!, and the teriyaki with the seaweed give it an Asian flavor. Is it good? Yes. Will I have it again? Yes.

A special thanks to ESPN Radio producer Mark Friedman for filming this, and the good people at the Captain Morgan Club for cooking me this on a day when Yu didn't pitch.

04/06/2012

ARLINGTON - Ian Kinsler drove up to to the Ballpark on Opening Day and saw "tents, trucks, tailgaters, hot dogs and beer," he said. It was 8:30 a.m. The scene before the game outside the stadium looked like a football tailgate scene.

"It's totally different," Kinsler said.

The Rangers' season opener drew a sellout 49,085, and those in attendance enjoyed chamber-of-commerce weather, $26 hot dogs, a great game, and a home team 3-2 win. Perfect day.

After consecutive World Series appearances, are the Rangers finally turning FW/d into a Baseball Town? Nope. But we are closer than ever before.

I was all ready to say we were there until I heard this from the Rangers in the 8th inning: 10,000 tickets are available for Monday night's game against the Seattle Mariners.

"They'll sell those, right?" Kinsler asked.

You would think. You would hope. Monday night is the scheduled big league debut of pitcher Yu Darvish. He will face the Mariners and the other famous Japanese import, outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. At this point there may be more Japanese media than fans.

Please spare me the excuses that it's a school night after a long weekend, or some other such nonsense. Unlike last summer when 119 degree temperatures were a legit excuse not to be anywhere but inside your 'fridge, Monday's weather should be pleasant.

If this town wants a winner at some point the great people of this area will have to come out in bigger numbers than just to watch the Texas Rangers for more than just:A.) Opening DayB.) $1 hot dog nightC.) FireworksD.) The Yankees/Red Sox E.) The playoffs

To be fair, it is better. It's not like 2002 when a Rangers game was just a glorified picnic. The Rangers' ranked 10th in MLB in attendance last season. When the Ballpark is full, the players notice a difference.

"When we have a packed house this the loudest ballpark I have ever been in," Rangers veteran Michael Young said. "It's nice to be in a game where the crowd is emotionally invested. Before I think they came out and hoped everything would be good. They hoped for us to win. Now I think they sense they can help us to get there - that's when you have a real home field advantage. I think they are invested. They want to come out and see wins."

The trick is to get people caring to a higher degree about the results and standings in June rather than just late September and into October. That's what makes Boston, New York and St. Louis baseball towns - the outcome matters in July, and "people are irked when their team loses," Kinsler said.

I am not sure that has happened here yet.

"I do think this team means something now to the people of the Metroplex," Kinsler said. "People have grown attached to this team and this team's personality."

Can't dispute that. This whole club is loaded with likeable personalities from Ron Washington, Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton, Michael Young, David Murphy, Neftali Feliz, Elvis Andrus and on and on. And when the Rangers lost Game 6 of the 2011 World Series people were upset not only for themselves, but for these men.

World Series level passion and interest is unsustainable in May or August, but a loss can carry with it a higher degree of irritation than it normally has here.

"That's passion," Kinsler said.

Are the Texas Rangers "there" yet? Not the whole way.

FW/d cares more about the Cowboys than the Rangers as Boston loves the Red Sox more than it does the Patriots.

"Why can't it be (like Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, New York)," Kinsler asked.

It's a fair question. Why not?

The Yankees and Cardinals' fan base makes sense given their success that has spanned multiple generations. But it's not as if the Cubs have won anything. The Red Sox were a bad joke until this century.

As long as we keep the Rangers to the Rangers, where this team's' fan base is bigger than ever before. There is pride in wearing Texas Rangers gear, and a far greater casual and hard-core interest in this team than has previously existed.

The moment we compare the Rangers and baseball to the Cowboys and football it's lost. Football is an easier commitment; it's once a week. Being a baseball fan, much like the game, can be a grind. It's an enormous time investment.

If the Rangers want to keep this going, the fan base has to not only grow, but care. You can't keep a team like this together paid on just a TV package with a local Fox outlet. People have to come not just on Opening Day, Fireworks night and the playoffs but for those May mid-week date against the Royals.

As Kinsler and Young noticed, the scene before and during the game says the fan base is not only expanding but increasingly passionate. But 10,000 tickets available for Yu Darvish indicates there is substantial room for growth.